The Gourd
In the old days, there was a man, and this man had a son, who he named Abwooli Karunga.
When Karunga grew up, he didn’t marry normally; instead, he married a bottle gourd.
One day, Karunga came home to his mother, and he brought her this gourd and he told her,
“This is my wife! Please, give her food; give her everything she wants. I don’t want her to have to dig or work!”
So, the mother stayed there in the house, with this gourd, while the son went away.
She would bring it food, and leave the plate beside the gourd, disdainfully. While the son was away, the mother would curse the gourd, saying, “What kind of person has this boy married? A wife who doesn’t cook, or dig. What is this thing?”
So, the mother would bring the food, and leave the room, and when she’d return the food was gone! Again and again she’d return to find the food gone, and wonder aloud, “What is this thing? She never digs, cooks, or gathers firewood! But she’s eaten all the food. What kind of thing has this boy married for me?”
She would complain about the gourd, right there in front of it, as it silently listened.
After some time, the son declared that he’d be coming back. Returning from his work to see his new bride.
The mother came to the gourd to tell her, “Your husband is on his way back. Do you hear me, whatever you are! Your husband is coming home”.
The bride listened, quietly.
Soon, the mother returned, “He’s in the car, he’s almost here!”
And it was at this time the gourd emerged from the room. From it, came a song:
“Abwooli Karunga! Come save me, please, Karunga! Come save me,
“Your wife who doesn’t cook for her mother-in-law,
“Your wife who doesn’t gather firewood,
“Come and save me, Karunga”
The gourd started rolling from the house. As the mother came out to see what was going on, she saw this gourd, just rolling around, singing.
As told by Kabahigi Regina
Her son was almost there, and still the gourd was singing,
“Abwooli Karunga! Come save me, please, Karunga! Come save me,
“Your wife who doesn’t cook for her mother-in-law, Abwooli Karunga,
“Your wife who doesn’t gather firewood, Abwooli Karunga,
“Come and save me, Karunga”
As the son got closer, the gourd kept rolling and rolling, all the way out to the compound.
“Your husband is here!” Shouted the mother, and the gourd sang again,
“Abwooli Karunga! Come save me, please, Karunga! Come save me,
“Your wife who doesn’t fetch water for her mother-in-law, Abwooli Karunga,
“Your wife who doesn’t gather firewood, Abwooli Karunga”.
As the husband entered the compound, the gourd started jumping! It jumped and it jumped, and the mother said “He’s here! Now let’s see who will welcome him”.
The gourd bounced over to the husband, still singing. At that moment, it took one huge leap and fell down with a smash!
And out of it came the beautiful bride!
Now the mother was deeply ashamed! “Oh my god”, she said, “All the things I’ve been saying about her! I didn’t know there was a person inside it! I’ve never seen anything like it“.
The husband came to his wife and picked up all her things. He helped her carry her possessions into the house. Then, he turned to his mother, “Mum, didn’t I tell you? This is my wife. I left her with you in the house, why did you abuse her?” The mother could only apologise.
So, the son took his wife and they built a house together. The mother-in-law was forever ashamed.
Abwooli and his new wife lived happily together, and as for me, I made my way home.
